Question about reality of moving to Manhattan (Bohemia, Inwood: luxury, apartments)

[aclemons6970]

My girlfriend and I are seriously contemplating moving to NYC next summer. I am curious about cost of living vs our current lifestyle.

Here is our scenario:

Total Combined income: $220,000

Employer COL Allowance: $1000.00/month

Required space: 2BR 1BA, min 800sqft

Luxury requirements: Require modern ammenities, clean space.

Location: Must be in Manhattan. UES, UWS, LES, FD. No Bronx, Harlem, Tribeca, ect...

If we decide to move, we want to be able to afford a decent place to live, which seems to run around the 4000/mo range. Also would like to have enough expendable income to enjoy what NYC has to offer. Shows, art, dining, ect... We are moving from Miami Beach, so quality of life is important, but quiet time is not. We are both extreme type A personalities.

So my question is, while we both know that some sacrifices will have to be made, can we still enjoy a decent quality of life on our salaries? A couple of friends of ours have moved there with our company, but decided to live in Hoboken or Long Island. We have decided that if we cannot live within midtown we don't want to move there. The full experience or nothing at all.

Any help, recommendations, or personal experiences would be apprecated.

[SaintLaurent]

What is wrong with Tribeca? I don't understand? Tribeca is much nicer than the FD and the LES, certainly one of the nicest (and wealthiest) neighborhoods in Manhattan.

Anyway, you should do ok on that income. You won't be living luxurious but it won't be bad. You will be comfortable if it's just the two of you.

http://www.nybits.com/ is a helpful website.

[aclemons6970]

saint - thanks for the input. I must be mistaken about Tribeca. I have only visited NYC a couple of times, and was under the impression that Tribeca was simliar to the Village. Artsy and Bohemian.

[Viralmd]

To me Tribeca's also pretty gritty.

Your employer gives a cost of living allowance? Hmmmm...not in NYC. You just get a somewhat higher salary.

And remember, in NYC you pay state/city income taxes (although city isn't much).

Re: a 2BR - nobody in his right mind would live in an 800 sq foot 2 BR apartment - the rooms would be microscopic. And 800 sq foot 1 BR is more liveable.

2BR in Manhattan -- for rental (I'm assuming you're thinking of renting) start at AROUND 3000/month - and that's NOT on the Upper West Side or Tribeca or Village or Upper East Side, etc. And it'll be small for that. My manager at work rents in midtown and she said her rent, for her 1 BR is going up from 3600/month. And midtown is usually more reasonable than other areas...

And don't forget to get rid of your car!

[roseba]

If you don't want "Bohemian" then I'd stay away from the Lower East Side. It's a big city and it might be better to concentrate on one neighborhood. If I were you, I'd look for the Upper WEST side. That way, on a nice spring evening, you can walk home from Lincoln Center. (by choice). There are lots of eateries and bars in that neighborhood, interesting shops, good gyms, and of course Central Park.

If you want to be near art galleries, then Tribeca is the place to be. It's not pretty on the outside, but the loft apartments are often gorgeous. I think the eateries are better quality than the UWS.

[Viralmd]

The highest rents (outside of the Financial District, which is, in a word, bleak), are in Tribeca, SoHo and the Upper West Side. Less costly areas are Midtown East and West (West is pretty rough on the eyes) and Washington Heights/Inwood (and if you live there, you might as well live in another borough, as they're so far uptown).

Be very careful if you use craisglist - there's a LOT of bait-and-switch.

[aclemons6970]

I certainly appreciate the heads up. Getting rid of the cars is a plan prior to the move. Both of us work for PWC, hence the COLA, which is SOP for all foreign workers. Are the apartments really that much more? I have been looking on some standard websites such as rentals.com and rent.com - both of which show 2br 1000sqft units available for the 4000/mo range near or around Central Park.

I noticed several others mentioning the UWS. Isn't the UES better for conservatives?

The biggest features to us are location to up scale dining and entertainment, newer apartment or at least remodeled, safe area, and space for collections of stuff in the apt.

[kimchee]

I have lived in the city for 25+ years and trust me when I stay the UWS is better.

UES is more residential.

If you want entertainment stay on the West side as it's more convenient to Times Square (Broadway shows), the Lincoln Center and the Village.

If want museums, stay on the UES as that's where the museum mile is...

Good luck, I would w/o doubt pick UWS if I were to get the most out of the city. Hehe....

[aclemons6970]

Kimchee - Thank you for your comments. Would youn feel, with your experience, that we can acheive the requirements I posted above in the UWS?

[SaintLaurent]

Yes, your income is pretty decent for the Upper West Side. Here is a two bedroom/1066 sq ft for $4,900 that I ran across. The building is pretty nice.


http://trumpplace.com/

http://www.nybits.com/apartmentlisti...149da709e.html